What Are You Watching Right Now? Episode 3 - Turtles in Time

[Chienfantome]

It is so bad it's absolutely hilarious. But I've only seen in theater with an audience who came knowingly this was this kind of film, and giving the screening the necessary atmosphere. I'm pretty sure it isn't as hilarious when you watch it on TV, but itshould still be fun enough.

[Ron Burgundy]

Ah, good. Im looking forward it already!

[Shrykespeare]

Anyone else loving The Alienist as much as me? I'm three episodes in and I am HOOKED.

I don't remember Daniel Bruhl from anything (not even Zemo from Captain America: Civil War). Luke Evans is imminently recognizable by fans of the FF franchise, the Hobbit series, and Beauty and the Beast. And I am so happy to see that Dakota Fanning has not decided to join that long, long list of child actors who couldn't cut it once they hit their 20's.

In any case, this show is brilliantly written and shot. Everything looks and feels genuine and time-appropriate, and the acting is wonderful. I know this is a limited series (as it's based on a series of books), but it's awesome and rewatchable. Kind of like Sherlock Holmes tracks Jack the Ripper in New York.

Thoughts?

[Ron Burgundy]

I think ill have to see those episodes of The Alienist for myself, pretty keen.

And i watched most of The Room, intermittently, and boy o boy was that some terrible acting and horrible dialogue. Not to mention the soft core porn at regular stages, i suppose that was 'The Room'? Sometimes unbareable and surprisingly not that funny- i think you need to enjoy the poor form with someone else or at least see it for a 2nd time, i find they are the keys to quotability.

Watched a few other things over the past fortnight

Annabelle: The Creation
Relies very heavily on jump scares which amp up on a exponential curve towards the end. Although i must say i didn't dislike it and have not seen the first one. Also, i dont know if Anthony LaPaglia has been back on the big screen for a while, but its nice to see him back.
5.5/10

Deadwood (first few episodes)
Almost at the pace of a snail, this now older TV show that seems to range in the Western-Drama area with lots of characters/character actors (like that younger old dude Toy Maker from Blade Runner) hasn't grabbed me, ill admit i wasn't watching this 100% of the time but im need to hear more about it before i delve further cause it was just too boring. Perhaps only two of the more prominent actors on set (Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant) are slightly interesting. Someone please give me a good reason to continue- because ive heard good things from friends...

The Man in the High Castle (first few episodes)
A high concept Tv show from amazon about what the world- or in this case the USA would look like if Nazi Germany and Japan won WW2. If theres ever been a B-grade TV show- its this. So B grade, from the dialogue to the acting. I'll need much more for it to be sold at my doorstep.

The Remains of the Day
A splendid performance from Anthony Hopkins and also Emma Thompson not to mention a delightfully English script make this worth watching. The butler with a carrot up his bum and the maid with a sorry affection for Hopkins alongside a little side plot about the Lord of the Mansion's darker affairs with the Nazi's. A minor role with Hugh Grant too. I think if i was 19 i'd passionately hate this, but these days, you got to appreciate the excellent acting all round.
8/10

Cliffhanger
Its been over a decade since i watched this and man what a solid action flick. Sly Stallone as the emotional climber who has tragedy strike in the first scene, Michael Rooker as the man holding a grudge, character actor Rex Linn as the corrupt FBI agent and John Lithgow as the maniacal super villian. With glorious action for littered with one liners i found it a good ol romp- a must see for Sly fans. Offcourse there are parts where the plot defies logic but thats not the point.
7/10

A Couple episodes of Hamiltons Pharmacopia and Epicly Later'd, two great new doco style shows- very different but both cool. The former being about hallucegenic drugs the wider world is yet to discover, one episode about a plant in Thailand which is now illegal over there but still relativey unknown in New York and therefore found in little cafe shops, you mix it with coke and stuff and make a feel good drug/drink. The other episode featured the poison from a toad found in Northern Mexico/Texas area which is like DMT- a powerful but short lived experience that is only for users 'ready'. Very interesting.
While the latter show is all about the 2nd wave of pioneering skateboarders- think the guys that featured on Tony Hawks Pro Skater video game, but the 2 episodes i watched were about Bam Margera and Chad Muska, basically talented street skaters who went off the rails

[Shrykespeare]

Cliffhanger
Of course there are parts where the plot defies logic but thats not the point.
7/10

To put it mildly. My favorite WTF moment came near the end when Rex Linn's character told baddie "Dalmar" to kill Rooker's character. A bit of trash-talking ensues immediately thereafter, followed by Rooker finally getting the upper hand and throwing Eurobaddie (Aussiebaddie?) Dalmar off the mountain. Then we cut to Rex Linn, who in two minutes is ALREADY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAIN and is so far away that he doesn't even know who just fell to his death.

But yes, a totally enjoyable action romp.

And totally fun when you consider that Sly and Rooker would reunite more than two decades later for GOTG2.

[Buscemi2]

The original cut of Cliffhanger was even more ridiculous, according to Stallone.

"the director's cut was met with a lot of disapproval at the screening and received some alarmingly low scores. Mainly because the stunts were absurdly overblown. For example, the average man can jump maybe twelve feet across a gorge, and the stunts had me leaping maybe three hundred feet or more, so situations like that had to be pared down and still then were fairly extreme… so you’re probably better off with this cut. By the way, the 2nd unit crew that filmed the majority of the action was extraordinary."

The film was also originally going to be a thriller called Gale Force set in a driving hurricane. It became Cliffhanger due to budget and special effects issues.

[Buscemi2]

I went to see True Romance (called the greatest romantic movie ever by an Alamo Drafthouse employee before the start) tonight. A sold out show filled with fans of Quentin and Tony Scott and those who love the 90's (it seems like nostalgia and musicals play the best here, three showings of Moulin Rouge two weeks from now have sold out).

The theatrical cut was screened (as noted by some edits from the unrated director's cut I'm more familiar with) in a weird-looking 2.20 DCP that was windowboxed on all four sides (the native presentation is 2.39 from a Super 35 negative) with a somewhat muddy 5.1 remix (the original mix was a 4.0 Dolby SR) but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the film. Watching, I couldn't help but realize this might be the most Tarantino of Tarantino's screenplays (or at least young Tarantino, before his recent troubles involving Uma Thurman calling him out and defending Roman Polanski). Clarence Worley is Quentin Tarantino. It's also interesting to note how impressive the cast was. Tony Scott had some pull to gather this cast of award winners past and future and famous character actors together for what was basically a slightly-bigger indie film. You probably couldn't make this film the same way today. But the one who holds it together is Patricia Arquette. Arquette was great in Boyhood but this might be her finest performance. I don't think any other actress could have played Alabama.

Also shown were three trailers (Midnight Sun, Gringo, Overboard). The only one I have any interest in is Gringo but I hope the movie's better than the underwhelming trailer.

Edit: now before anyone says anything about going to an Alamo Drafthouse, the one I go to is not owned by the Leagues. It's a franchised location owned and run by locals.

[Buscemi2]

I attended a free (though I had to pay for $5 for a food and beverage voucher, which I used on a strawberry cheesecake milkshake) showing of Cleo from 5 to 7 tonight. In a way, this is the definitive Agnes Varda (whom I'm amazed to have found out that she's only directed 13 films in over six decades of filmmaking) film. Even if you aren't familiar with her, it seems like most French New Wave enthusiasts know this film. It's also one of the best films about musicians and perhaps one of the earliest films to be told in a real-time structure. Cleo is a fascinating enigma of a character. She might seem superficial and bratty as first but as the film goes on and she has to face the possibility of dying at a young age, she finds herself. It seems like that the journey of self concept is given a negative view (mainly because audiences just seem to want explosions and characters with the mindset of fourteen year-old boys) but it works here. It's the case of making a somewhat unsympathetic character very sympathetic at the end, something Hollywood can never do right.

Before the movie, there were two older trailers for French films (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Beaches of Agnes), a short film directed by Alain Resnais, and three trailers for upcoming movies (Every Day, Midnight Sun, Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool, the last being less of a trailer and more an Elvis Costello music video).

[BanksIsDaFuture]

Edit: now before anyone says anything about going to an Alamo Drafthouse, the one I go to is not owned by the Leagues. It's a franchised location owned and run by locals.

Is something up with Drafthouse? There's one opening in my city next month and I plan on going at least once a week.

[Buscemi2]

The locations owned by the Leagues (mainly the Texas locations) have been accused of underreporting sexual harassment claims. One of these claims was the one that brought down Harry Knowles (founder of Ain't It Cool News and disgusting gutter trash).

You should be fine as I'd imagine Raleigh is a franchised location. I recently saw St. Louis is supposed to get one next year (forming a triangle of locations in the state I live in) but the way things go there, I bet it will really come in 2023 (Ballpark Village opened five years after the original 2009 date and Shake Shack took a while to open).

I can't wait to hit 50 visits (44 so far in eight months with my 45th visit coming next week). You get a special celebration.

[Ron Burgundy]

Watched a couple newish ones in last night

Tulip Fever
At first i thought: why is this NOT on our master list? I had to double check the year and all. Great cast, interesting premise and a solid start complete with impeccable constume design (Amsterdam in late 1600's). And what a cast: You've got two young rising stars in Alicia Vikander and Dane Dehaan, actually make that 3 with Jack O'Conell in a supporting role, combined with Christoph Waltz (always makes a movie better, this time he plays ), Judi Dench, Zach Galafinakas, Cara Delevingne also character actors Tom Hollander and Kevin McKidd. The cover for the film has Desire, Obsession, Betrayal- which is fine it does summarise things. I just wish they concentrated more on this 'Obsession' or more acurately: history of the tulip fever- which is summed up in the introduction. Some fairly large and somewhat illogical character actions make it less believable, i can't help but wonder if the book was less so. All in all, worth it just for the cast and costumes.
5.5/10

Out of the Furnace
Speaking of good casts, this ones perhaps even better, before watching i only knew of Christian Bale in here. But wait, theres more: Willem Dafoe, Woody Harrelson, Zoe Saldana, Sam Shepard, Forest Whitker, Casey Affleck & Boyd Holbrook. About a reckless young bro (Affleck) who does reckless things, only for older bro to step up albeit with poor timing. Woody Harrelson plays the baddie- and he does a good job of it to be honest. Its well acted for sure but the pathway is too slow at first, then when things get interesting is swiftly brushed over with emotional scenes injected almost randomly. Sure its drama but (six's favorite word) contrived. Saldana and Shepard are used sparingly, these kind of roles should go to no name actors who would love to star alongside Bale. Overall it could have been much better.
5.5/10

[Buscemi2]

Attended a screening of Kill Bill Vol. 1 tonight. I saw Vol. 2 in the theatre 14 years ago but never got to see the first half theatrically during its original run. The theatre was supposed to screen an original 35mm print but couldn't get one (Quentin must have them all) so instead, a DCP (which must have been from the original release as it still had the Miramax logo from that era instead of the plaster that's before all their titles now, though I'd imagine that will be replaced with the beIN Media Group logo soon as it was on I, Tonya) was shown.

As for the film (well, half the film), it still holds up immensely. It's still as fast-paced and fun as I remember it and a lot more brutal (I found myself flinching during Buck's demise early on). You also notice little details you didn't exactly notice the first time around (such as the reveal of The Bride's name being hinted in the first scene but not actually told until late in Vol. 2). And how didn't Uma Thurman get awards attention for either volume? Was she just not too America's sweetheart or bombastic enough for the voters?

Shown with the film were six trailers (Steele Justice, Dixie Dynamite, Gymkata, Gringo, Red Sparrow, and Breaking In).

[Ron Burgundy]

Watched a bit of random stuff on the weekend...

Cujo
Early 80s low budget horror about a rabid dog going on a rampage. Side plot involves a cheating wife. Fairly horrible stuff, beyond me how i finished it.
2/10

Down with Love
Set in the 50s full of swing songs, stereotypical characters (men winning, cheating, women working, cleaning, etc) trying to flip that idea on its head with Renee Zellweger the lead lady whose written a book giving women something to stand up for and ignoring love with Ewan McGregor playing the cunning man who exposes big news, in this case Zellweger finds love? With a glossy appeal and some sharp dialogue this could have been a big hit but instead it drives the love angle and loses its charm instead feeling a bit saccharine. Not bad though.
5.5/10

The Stand (mini-series)
Finally got to watch this really long made for TV event from the terrific Stephen King book. With a decent cast featuring Gary Sinise, Rob Lowe and Molly Ringwold (and Ed Harris in a minor role) it tries hard to flesh out the characters and summarize the whole book but ends up lacking real suspense which the book gave. The baddie: Randall Flagg also known as the Man in Black (The Dark Tower) casts a long shadow and capitalizes on "Captain Trips"- the flu epidemic which wipes out 99% of the population, a band of survivors rally together to defeat him. I wanted to like this much more but in the end it was just that- a low budget tele movie.
4/10

The Corporation
A bit of a guilty pleasure of mine, i think i had seen this before when it came out- before i had grown into a wise man Basically giving a summary of what the corporation does: and how it is legally seen as a person and therefore getting around many legalities without any kind of conscience. Good stuff if you are into seeing how the world goes round.
7/10

Three Colors - Red
Gave this a go after beeing on the watchlist for ages. Really well (insert red stuff) shot french film set in Switzerland revolving around a model who strikes up a friendship with a wise eavesdropping old judge after running over his dog. Admittedly i did not finish it. Was probably 80% in when i stopped.

Driving Miss Daisy
Re-watched this classic. Still good. Great dialogue.
6.5/10

The Postman
Re-watched this too, it starts off fairly promising to be honest, Kevin Costner in a post apocalyptic world (minus water) versus deranged leader of (clueless?) cannibals Will Patton. A painful 2nd half ruins shit.
4.5/10

The winter Olympics
Caught alot of this when it was on TV, Norway winning overall...funny cause i didn't see them win anything. Last night was the mens Ice Hockey game, which was pretty good.

[Chienfantome]

I loved Down with Love back then. Haven't seen since theater.

[Buscemi2]

I attended a screening of Heathers tonight, timed with the new show (which I expressed my opinions about in the TV section). A sold-out crowd was entertained with a red scrunchie and Corn Nuts (BQ, of course) and an optional drink with a Big Fun mug. The DCP shown was taken from the Image Blu-ray master and is rather muddy but it was a low-budget film where the original master is apparently lost, so you can't really complain.

As for the film itself, it seems like no film has been able to successfully emulate its biting humor or dark-natured tone (in a way, the film is both a criticism of the 80's and a bridge to the more cynical cinema of the early 90's) but sadly is overshadowed by films like Mean Girls that don't even have a tenth of the intelligence of this film. And as good as Surfer's favorite actress is, the real star is Christian Slater. After seeing two Slater films in the theatre this month, I'm hoping for more revivals of the good Slater movies (give me Broken Arrow!).

Also shown were nine trailers (Pump Up the Volume, Preppies, Jawbreaker, The Violent Years, Massacre at Central High, The Room, Gringo, Overboard, and Life of the Party) and a policy snipe themed after the Heathers series (of which the content is ironic seeing how the show has turned out).